Folks,
I just discovered a new RFC for List Message Header Fields. Here is
the form letter for List Managers trying to drum up support for this
proposed standard. This idea seems to fit with the list-centric vs.
server-centric model that Mailman currently seems to be heading in.
However I have seen the *-subscribe and *-unsubscribe aliases before,
in LISTSERV which I think of as server-centric. Also, note the use
of *-request (in *-archive) as a conduit for commands, rather than
feedback for a human.
In any case, for what it is worth, here's that letter...
Cordially,
The List Server Admin
list.admin@unh.edu
(currently Bill Costa)[ http://www.nisto.com/listspec/letter-listmom.txt ]
This is a request for you to implement support for the List- header fields defined in RFC2369. This will make mail list access easier for your users.
<ftp://nis.nsf.net//internet/documents/rfc/rfc2369.txt>
The List- fields provide you with a standard method by which you can consistently describe your mailing lists' command syntax so that client applications can implement an interface to make list access easier for users.
As they are adopted and supported by email software developers, the List header fields will make it easier for users to interact with email lists.
The currently defined fields are List-Subscribe, List-Unsubscribe, List-Help, List-Post, List-Owner and List-Archive. They describe commands for subscribing, unsubscribing, retrieving help information, posting to the list, contacting a human administrator and accessing message archives.
For your list, the fields would appear as:
List-Subscribe: <mailto:list-request@server?Body=subscribe%20list> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:list-request@server?Body=unsubscribe%20list> List-Help: <mailto:list-request@server?Body=help> List-Post: <mailto:list@server> List-Owner: <mailto:listmom@server?Subject=listname> List-Archive: <mailto:list-request@server?Body=archives>, <http://server/list-archive/>
Implementation guidelines for list managers and administrators are available at:
<http://www.nisto.com/listspec/list-manager-intro.html>
Extended details on the List header fields are available from:
<http://www.nisto.com/listspec/>
A mailing list for discussion is available at:
<http://www.nisto.com/listspec/mail> or <mailto:list-header@list.nisto.com?Subject=help>
Information on the format of mailto URLs:
<ftp://nis.nsf.net//internet/documents/rfc/rfc2368.txt>
Thanks!
[EOM]